Exeter is forecast to be one of the UK’s Fastest Growing Cities

Exeter is forecast to be one of the UK’s fastest growing cities over the next three years, according to a new economic report.

Strengths in ICT, professional services and real estate sectors are keeping the city flying high with utilities and renewables key growth drivers over the next three years.

It is ranked at number five in the whole of the country with Gross Value Added (GVA) of 2.3%, as cities in Southern England are forecast to outperform those located across the rest of the country.

According to EY’s UK Regional Economic Forecast, Exeter is on par with Bristol with both expected to grow faster than London’s 2.2% and the UK average of 1.8%. Exeter’s growth will also outpace the broader South West with its forecast 1.7% growth by 2020.

Employment in the South West shows a strong increase, with 54,000 more jobs in June 2017 than in the previous year. Looking ahead to 2020, total employment in the South West is expected to increase by 0.3% per year – just behind the UK average of 0.4%

Andrew Perkins, Senior Partner at EY in the South West, said: “The South West is forecast to grow at a faster rate than the majority of UK regions, with only London, the South East and Midlands’ economies growing ahead. Previous forecasts have set the region’s growth at 1.3% so it’s positive to see the South West exceeding this – up to 1.7% GVA by 2020.

With Exeter forecast to grow by 2.3% a year until 2020, the city is finally punching above its weight and is expected to be one of the fastest growing UK cities over the next three years, behind Reading and Manchester both growing at 2.4% GVA. This is underpinned by professional and back office services and real estate driving growth across the South West.”